Intake manifold



April 18:, 1961 Q M, BALL 2,980,087

INTAKE MANIFOLD Filed Feb. 1. .1960

Cif/Y M BAL/ BY my a, "il

United States atent: C)YF nwTAKE mNIFoLD Guy Ball, 42561 N. 100111 sr. E., Lancastegcanr.

Filed Feb. 1, 1960, ser. No. 5,746

6 claims. (c1. 12s-sz) This invention relates to an intake manifold for internal combustion and similar engines.

The fuel delivered by a carburetor is not vaporized, but, rather in ne spray form as a result of the atomization action of the carburetor nozzle. Since the suction action of the engine being supplied with such fuel is both intermittent and uneven, due to varying eiciency of l combustion in the different cylinders of the engine, the inlet of fuel to the ports of the diferent cylinders is uneven. As aresult, violent pulsations take place in the passages of the intake manifold. Frequently, these pul--' sations are so violent as to impede -and sometimes cause reversal in the direction of ow of the carbureted fuel. Also, the frequencies of the pulsations vary in response to variable speeds of the engine. Y

These uneven pulsations and reversals of flow in the manifold cause particles or droplets of fuel to be deposited on the Walls of the flow passages as well as to collect in puddles in various locations.

Since such uneven fuel flow results in an uneven distribution of fuel to the different cylinders of the engine, those cylinders ordinarily receiving a leaner flow require increased fuel supply to give maximum operation efliciency. The other cylinders will, therefore, be receiving a surplus of fuel with the losses resulting therefrom, as well as impaired operation, excess of wear, and collection of unduly large deposits of carbon and sludge in the engine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel intake system for internal combustion and other engines that will overcome the above-outlined faults in intake manifolds of prior design and provide for a smooth flow of fuel at substantially constant velocity and in a unidirectional ilow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel intake system that embodies means to accelerate the flow of fuel in the system to, thereby, smoothen the flow and provide for an even distribution of fuel to the different intake ports of the engine cylinders.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a plan View showing one form of intake manifold system according to the present invention, the same being shown in connection with an engine having plural banks of cylinders, as in V-engines and opposed engines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing another form of intake manifold system, the same being shown applied to a straight or in-line engine.

' Fig. 1, in dot-dash lines, shows a two-bank engine 5 which represents opposed and V-engines, generally. A carburetor 6 is shown in the usual position between the opposite banks of cylinders. 1 1

Fig. 2, in Ka similar manner, shows an in-line engine 7 and the usual side-located carburetor 8 that supplies the same with fuel.

The engine 5 is provided with a manifold system 10 for providing the groups of cylinder ports 11 and 11a of said engine with fuel in response to the usual suction that occurs at said ports during operation of the engine.

Said system 10 comprises, generally, intake manifolds 12 and 12a that are each supplied by carbureted fuel from the carburetor 6, and means 13 and 13a for utilizing the speed of movement of excess fuel in oneintake to accelerate the movement of fuel in the other, whereby the supply of fuel is accelerated beyond the normal speed of intake imparted thereto by eng-ine suction and, therefore,` smoothened to a flow independent of the pulsations of the engine.

The manifold 12 extends from the carburetor as a leg 14 that is connected by a portion 15 to a leg 16 thatvhas openings that connect to the engine or cylinder intake ports 11. In the usual manner, fuelmoving past said ports 11 will be drawnthereinto to supply a charge of fuel for compression and ignition in the usual Way. In ordinary intake manifolds, the leg 16 is closed at the'end or terminates at the most remote of the ports 11. In this case, the intake leg 16 is continued and terminates in a reduced outlet 17 that is preferably directed at an angle to the leg 16.

The manifold 12a is similarly formed, having a leg 14a that extends from the carburetor, a portion 15a that connects said leg 14a to a leg 16a, and an outlet 17a for the manifold 15a. The ports 11a are supplied by fuel that moves in the leg 16a.

According to the present invention, the outlet 17 of manifold 12 is introduced or extends into the manifold 12a, preferably the portion 15a thereof, and is directed to discharge in the direction of normal flow in 'said manifold 15a. Similarly, the outlet 17a of manifold 12a extends into the manifold 12 and discharges in the direction of flow of the latter manifold.

It will be yclear from the foregoing that the outlets 17 and 17a each constitutes a P itot tube, a Venturi tube, or a pressure nozzle in which the discharge velocity of said outlet tubes induces a velocity or an increased velocity in the portions 15 and 15a of the intake manifolds Vand comprise the means 13 and 13a.

In the above manner, the surplus of fuel from one manifold not only is received by the other, but acts to increase the velocity in the latter manifold. As a consequence, the excess charges of fuel in both intake manifolds are being constantly intermixed and moved in a smooth non-pulsating manner past the ports 11 and 11d. Even if one manifold 12 or 12a receives fuel in a different quantity relative to the other, the ilow in both manifolds will soon even out since the manifold with a greater supply of fuel will be discharging itssurplus into the manifold with the lesser supply.

It will be seen that the manifolds are so related as to form an 0 through enclosure of which extends the fuel inlet legs 14 and 14a.

While a single carburetor 6 is shown, two separate carburetors may be used, as can be understood.

In the form of Fig. 2, the group of ports 11b and 11c are supplied from the carburetor 8 by means of the intake manifolds 12b and 12C. Except that a figure-8 arrangement results, the latter manifolds are respectively 3 provided with legs 1412 and 14e, ports 15b and 15o, legs 1Gb and 16C, and discharge ends or outlets 17b and 17e. Said outlets, as before described, enter the respective ports 15C and 15b of the manifolds 12b and 12C. The velocity-increasing means 13b and 13C are thus provided.

Of course, the manifolds that comprise the system are shown in the two forms thereof in semi-diagrammatic form' and arrangement, it being understood that variations in design, size, proportion and arrangement may well be resorted to to provide the advantages set forth in the preamble of this specification.

While I have illustrated and described what I now contemplate to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, the constructions are, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not wish to restrict myself to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters `Patent is:

l. An intake manifold system for conducting fuel from a carburetor to two groups of intake ports of an internal combustion engine, said system comprising twointake manifolds extending from said'carburetor to an outlet end and connected to the respective groups of ports, each outlet end extending into the manifold of the other outlet end and directed to discharge in the normal direction of flow of fuel therethrough to said group of intake ports.

2. .An intake manifold system for conducting fuel from a carburetor to two groups of intake ports of an internal combustion engine, said system comprising two intake manifolds extending from said carburetor to an outlet end and connected to the respective groups of ports, each outlet end constituting a velocity-inducing pressure nozzle that enters the manifold of the other' outlet end in a direction to discharge surplus fuel that flows past all of the intake ports into the other intake manifold to induce accelerated flow in said manifolds.

3. An intake manifold system according to claim 2 in which the manifolds are similarly and oppositely shaped.

4. An intake manifold system according to claim 2 in which the manifolds are similarly and oppositely shaped, the manifolds having an O formation with the inlets from the carburetor extending substantially centrally through the O enclosure formed by the manifolds.

5. An intake manifold system according to claim Z in which the manifolds are similarly and oppositely shaped, rthe manifolds having a figure-8 formation with the inlets from the carburetor extending into said formation at the cross-over of the formation.

6. An intake manifold system for conducting fuel from a carburetor to two groups of intake ports of an internal combustion engine, said system comprising two intake manifolds extending from said carburetor to an outlet end and connected to the respective groups of ports, each outlet end constituting a velocity-inducing pressure nozzle that enters the manifolds of the other outlet end -in a direction to discharge surplus fuel that flows past all of the intake ports into the other intake manifold to induce accelerated flow in said manifolds, said nozzles being disposed in assisting relation to each other to establish a single accelerated ow through both manifolds.

No references cited. 

